shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

These Jewish children, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were young when brought captives out of the land of Judah, did not forget the God of their fathers amongst the heathens of a foreign land. Wonderful was their faith. They trusted with their whole hearts in God, and He helped and took care of them, for He never fails those who trust in Him. To Daniel was the dream of king Nebuchadnezzar which he had forgotten revealed, with its true meaning or interpretation. And to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who, at the risk of a horrible death, refused to bow down before the golden idol set up by the king, did God vouchsafe His holy protection, so that they walked unhurt amidst the fire of the furnace, and an angel, or perhaps even Our Lord Himself, appeared bodily there also, to strengthen and to give them confidence.

Who were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? What miracle was performed when Daniel refused to eat the king's food, which had probably been offered before idols? What did Nebuchadnezzar want the Jews to worship?

How did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego behave when called before the king?

How were they saved from death?

Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar.

EBUCHADNEZZAR was full of pride,
His city was rich and grand;

He looked on Babylon, and he cried, "See all that my might hath planned."

Yet God a warning in dreams had sent,
To bid him of pride beware,

While Daniel told all the vision meant,
And time was given for prayer.

He was not wise, and the threatened woe
Came down on his haughty head;

He had been high, but God brought him low-
Seven years like a beast he fed.

Then his mind was healed, and he praised the Lord
As he never had done before,

And God his kingdom again restored,
Since he worshipped himself no more.

But Nebuchadnezzar's son, unwise,

Nor warned by his father's fate,
Read death and doom with his startled eyes
As banqueting once he sate.

Belshazzar died, and the Persians came
And rent his kingdom away,

But Daniel the Prophet, in honour and fame,
Lived on for many a day.

CHAPTER XXXII.

The Punishment of Nebuchadnezzar for Pride.
Belshazzar's Feast.

HUS said Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. How great are His signs! and how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.

I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace. And I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Therefore before Belteshazzar I told the dream, saying, Tell me the interpretation thereof.

Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, nor the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: it is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will. And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness,

and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

All this came upon king Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will. The same hour was the thing upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

done

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured Him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. At the same time my reason returned unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of